Matt Caris

9.3

Snowstorm wine number 1 — 10 years ago

Chris Hallowell

Northest Manager Terroir Selections

9.0

The end of case number 1 of 2 purchased in 2011. Crazy bottle variation amongst the bottles already opened ranging from Brett-bomb, to crazy pure raspberry fruit and schist. This bottle was just right of center. — 10 years ago

Michael Zilber

9.5

The surprise of the evening. Was the number one pick by the group - especially after it opened up at the end of the night changed from my #2 to my #1 — 11 years ago

David S

9.0

Wine number 1 for 2015. — 11 years ago

Vijay Parikh

9.0

At Jonathan's, ranked number 1 of six well balanced I mistook for the Monte Bello — 11 years ago

Tsuyoshi Enoki

Sake Specialist Hasegawa Sake Shop Tokyo

9.1

Name:" Suminoe"/ subtitle:" BY Number 1"/ brewery: Suminoe shuzou/ region: Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture/ category: junmaiginjo unpasturised / fresh note of yellow peach, apricot, clear attack, fresh and sharp acid, slim and smooth. Good too! — 12 years ago

Alberto Lorenzi

9.5

Number 1 gin ! — 12 years ago

Michael Solway

9.0

I was skeptical at first...inky black and 15.3 ABV, but the wine is well balanced with plenty of freshness and lift. Just the ticket with tonight's daube de boeuf. — 10 years ago

Patrick Dolan

8.9

Smells of cherry oak and some light tobacco. Very full bodied with some port notes actually and smooth finish. Somewhat acidic and would do well with food. — 11 years ago

Laissez Fare

9.0

Els Jelipins 2009 (a very kind gift from, and shared with, @J_A_A). Made by Gloria and Berta Garriga in the hills Penedès. Based around the Sumoll grape, with a slightly different blend each year (depending on which rows of vineyards they decide to take fruit from). The fruit is hand-picked over a number of sessions — always early in the morning and in small cases. It ferments with the natural yeasts, without temperature control, fining, or filtration and only a touch of sulfur added right before bottling. Open-top barrel fermentation and some wax-lined oval amphorae are used, along with lengthy aging in big barrels. Each bottle is painted by hand – the design is different each year, but always includes the symbolic heart.
This has to be one of the most distinctive, intriguing and confounding red wines I've ever tasted. The first thing you notice is the cloudy ruby color. A mysterious scent leads to strong flavors of green herbs (almost medicinal) on the palate: is it tarragon or dill, or both? Elderflower perhaps? Maybe fresh olive too. Underlying this is an ever-changing red fruit core (cranberry, tart cherry), with the odd streak of wet rocks and a zippy freshness. Totally raw and wild. Impossible to pin down and paradoxical.
Ultimately, this wine was indomitable. We paired it with a full-flavored Iranian stew (ghormeh-sabzi), then with vegetarian Indian curry. The wine went remarkably well with both, though I wouldn't say it 'paired' well. You could always taste the distinct flavors of the wine, and it didn't interfere with the food, but they didn't really enhance each other either. Essentially, even robust food flavors could not tame this cloudy, 'little-looking' red wine.
After all of this, I will not say that I am gagging to try this wine again, as I'm not really sure I love the flavor profile overall … but it did grow on me over the four days we had it open. And the wine was possibly even better on Day 4 than it was on Day 1. I would definitely be happy to try it again, though, as there is no doubt it would challenge palates, ideologies and spark conversation. This is a 'real' wine, with no pretense and oodles of individuality. — 11 years ago

Paul Nigido

10

Great wine with panko crusted shrimp. Awesome pairing. Number 1 winery. — 11 years ago

with Rhonda

Mohammad Damavandi

9.6

Truly number 1. Probably the best Malbec I've had. Smooth, bold, and very enjoyable. And the price was extremely reasonable! — 12 years ago

Alicia Hargraves

9.7

Entry number 1 blowed my mind! So good, reminded me why I love Cotes du Rhone and don't mind spending more than $10 on wine :) — 13 years ago

Neal Ferry

9.1

Number 1 in Texas — 10 years ago

Ralph DiBiasi

9.6

Deserves the number 1 rating! So glad I have a few more of these! — 11 years ago

Jordan Moore

9.1

Birthday dinner number 1. Strawberries and yeasty greatness. Berries and bread with a great oily mouthfeel and drinkability. Went well with prawns and crab. — 11 years ago

Clement Cariot

Sommelier Bleu Provence

9.5

Showing extremely well, very complex, smooth, great balance. Should have been number 1 on the Wine Spectator list instead of 3. — 11 years ago

Eric Hwang

9.5

Champagne tasting: group ranked 2 of 4. My number 1. Lemon-lime aromas with spiced poached pears on the palate. — 11 years ago

August Deimel

9.8

Riesling verticals spoils number 1 #flxwine — 12 years ago

Kendrick Brown

9.1

The 2008 Traditions Merlot features grapes from a number of our estate vineyards in Eastern Washington's Wahluke Slope. Established in 2006, the Wahluke Slope is a sub-region within the Columbia Valley appellation. Located midway between Seattle and Spokane it is bordered by the Columbia River to the southwest and Hanford Reach National Monument to the east. The climate here is warm enough during the day to fully ripen grapes, yet cool enough at night to ensure bright acids and firm tannins. The 2008 Traditions Merlot is elegant, balanced and approachable. The nose is bright and forward with cherries, berries and plums wrapped in crème brulée and brown sugar. The flavors are a seamless blend of fruit, oak and acidity. Blend: 78% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec & 1% Barbera. — 13 years ago